Sunday, January 13, 2013

Composer and pianist Heikki Sarmanto is a leading Finnish jazz
scene figure who has been internationally praised for his symphonic, orchestral
and jazz ensemble works.
During the early 1960s, Sarmanto studied at the Sibelius Academy in Finland.
Shortly thereafter he won a prestigious award for the International Competition
of Jazz Composition in Minneapolis, MN. He also performed in numerous Finnish
jazz recordings including Christian Schwindt’s “For Friends and Relatives” (RCA
Victor) and Esa Pethman’s “The Modern Sound of Finland” (RCA Victor).

Sarmanto entered the Berklee College of Music in Boston, in 1968 where he
honed his piano and composition skills with coaching from Herb Pomeroy, Charlie
Mariano and Margaret Chaloff. In 1969 he released the first recording under his
own name in 1969 titled “Flowers in the Water” (EMI/Columbia), which was taken
from a live recording at the University of Jyvaskyla.
In 1970, Sarmanto was chosen “Jazz Musician of the Year” in Finland. Back in
Boston, he joined fellow musicians Lance Gunderson (guitar), Craig Herndon
(drums), George Mraz (bass) and fellow Finn Juhani Aaltonen (saxophone) to
record what would be released 38 years later as “Boston Date” (Porter Records).
This quartet, with Pekka Sarmanto replacing George Marz, would be known as the
“Serious Music Ensemble”. They would go on to record “Counterbalance” and “Like
a Fragonard” (EMI/Odeon) in Finland. These two powerful recordings showcase both
of Sarmanto’s amazing abilities as a piano player and composer. They incorporate
elements of jazz, folk, improvisation and even rock to make a distinctive
statement.

In 1971, he was awarded top honors at the Montreux Jazz Festival in both
piano and combo categories. Sarmanto continued to record for EMI/Odeon with the
big band recording “Everything is it”. Throughout the 70s, Sarmanto continued to
record albums that ranged from big band to ...Expand to read entire bio
>arrangements based upon poetry.

In the 80s, Mr. Sarmanto was chosen by Sonny Rollins to arrange and conduct
his “Saxophone Concerto”, which premiered and was televised in Tokyo in 1986.
Some of his key works include “New Hope Jazz Mass” dedicated to Duke Ellington
and John Coltrane, which was received with unequivocal praise at the opening of
Saint Peter's Church in New York, and also Suomi Symphony, which premiered to
rave reviews at Carnegie Hall in 1988.

He was instrumental in founding the internationally lauded UMO Jazz Orchestra
and was appointed its artistic director in 1999. Sarmanto headed the Jazz Studio
at the Sibelius Academy which is highest institute of Finnish music and now home
to the foremost jazz department in that nation.

Sarmanto's collaboration with Brazil's great lyricist, Fernando Brant, and
the gifted guitarist-arranger, Juarez Moreira, resulted in the beautiful CD “A
Lua Luara”. It featured one of Brazil's top vocalists, Claudya de Oliveira.
Sarmanto is currently working with the famous French music publisher Alphonse
Leduc to produce a CD and sheet music of his newest work titled
“Impressions-Paris”, which includes 20 solo piano works. In 2008 Sarmanto
composed the jazz opera “Manon”, which premiered in Estonia with great
success.

He has toured the United States, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa and
continues to actively expand his musical horizons. Porter Records along with
Heikki Sarmanto and EMI Finland have begun to re-release a substantial body of
Sarmanto’s previously unavailable early work for both the enjoyment of new and
old enthusiasts of jazz.

Tristan (and Isolde) you are kicking ass in multiple directions recently. It's the only joy I have as a Hurricane Sandy survivor renting a little shack with little heat and poor internet connectivity. Insulting. PS: Has anyone ever come up with a good Tortilla Flat recording since you posted that? Peace and dryness. Wassc.